USA’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Feb. 6 to hire Waldrop to succeed the late President Emeritus Gordon Moulton, who stepped down in February 2013 and died on Sept. 28, 2013, after a long battle with brain cancer.

John W. Smith has been USA’s acting president since last February. Waldrop is only the third president to helm the 50-year-old university.

Waldrop comes to USA from the University of Central Florida, where he was provost and executive vice president. His wife, Julee Waldrop, is a professor and nurse. She will finish the spring semester at Central Florida before joining her husband in Mobile.

University officials have formed a transition team for Waldrop’s arrival, mainly of members of the president’s council, or faculty members who meet regularly with the president, Lowry said.

The chairman is David Johnson, senior vice president for academic affairs. Other members are Joseph F. Busta Jr., vice president for development and alumni relations; Lynne Chronister, vice president for research and economic development; Joel Erdmann, athletic director; Dr. Ronald D. Franks, vice president for health sciences; Happy Fulford, executive director for governmental relations; Stan Hammack, vice president for health systems; Lowry; Michael A. Mitchell, dean of students; Steve Simmons, vice president for financial affairs; and Jean Walker Tucker, senior university attorney.

The transition team is planning an inauguration ceremony in September, Johnson said, and members are scheduling meetings throughout the fall for Waldrop to have sit-downs with various faculty and student groups, including the Student Government Association. Waldrop will also have meetings at each of the university’s nine colleges, Johnson said.

The transition team is also arranging community meetings for Waldrop, including an event in July at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.

Because Waldrop is arriving late in the spring semester, the timing should be an advantage in terms of getting acclimated, Johnson said.

“He was anxious to get here as soon as he could,” Johnson said, adding that Waldrop will be well-prepared before the start of the next semester. “It’s really kind of a benefit to him and to the university that we’ll have that getting-to-know-one-another period for the next several months.”

The university community is greatly anticipating Waldrop’s arrival, Johnson said.

“We’re extremely excited throughout the community; we’re all anxious to have him here,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to working with him.”